Can you believe it’s almost Christmas? Any minute now the malls are going to be jam packed, Boney M or Mariah’s Christmas albums will be coming at you from all sides and you’ll be tasked with what to stick under the tree for those you love.

If you or anyone on your Christmas list is a Bobbi Brown fan, you’re going to adore the new Gift Giving collection. It’s fabulously luxe-looking and all the shades are wonderfully wearable; no horrible gimmicky Christmas tree green or candy cane red over here; you’re looking at a nice assortment of shimmery (not glittery) eye shadows shades that include lots of silver, bronze and gold as well as flattering lip colours that range from nude to punchy-looking berry.

Of everything in the collection, The Twilight Pink lip and eye palette is the one you want for Christmas (but only if you’ve been very, very good):

You’ve also got two shimmer bricks to choose from:

…

…as well as two fabulously affordable Lip & Eye palettes:

These two eye shadow palettes are awesome too:

I was spoiled with the Smokey Cool eye palette which includes the following shades; Ivory, Graphite (sparkle), Smokey Grey (shimmer wash), Truffle, Platinum (sparkle) and Caviar.

The set also includes a dual-ended brush; a super soft shadow brush side that makes blending a breeze and a liner brush which is great if you like to wet your shadows and use them as liners. (Yep, you can do that with most of Bobbi’s shadows.) You can also use this side of the brush to apply dry shadow to your brows should you wish to fill them in.

Gifting collection aside, Bobbi’s new Smokey Eye mascara (R350) and kajal liner (R285) have also hit the shelves.

I was given the mascara to try and it’s seriously awesome. Thanks to kajal pigment, the colour’s nice and dark and, while the natural gum, wax and oil-infused formula does add volume, it scores serious brownie points in the lengthening and definition department.

I haven’t tried the liner aside from on my hand at a launch and can confirm that it glided on effortlessly, was fabulously pigmented and blended like a dream.

To celebrate the launch, Bobbi’s local make-up artists created four unique smoky eye looks.

As Bobbi Brown’s all about teaching you how to do things as opposed to just showing you how pretty it can look, the brand’s holding several smokey eye make-up lessons at beauty counters across the country starting as of Tuesday. To find out what time the lessons go down and to book your spot, simply call your nearest counter.

14 to 20 October
Canal Walk: (021) 821 1500.

22 – 27 October
V&A Waterfront: (021) 418 8188.

22 to 28 October
Sandton: (011) 884 4818.

23 – 27 October
Menyln: (012) 369 8500.

29 October to 3 November
Eastgate: (011) 622 9982 and Tygervalley (021) 914 2072.

If you end up going, I’d love to hear how it went so please be sure to chat to me in the comments section.

Love, love

Leigh